食品伙伴网解读研究溯源：1961年，华盛顿大学Friday Harbor 实验室的Osamu Shimomura和Frank Johnson首次从水母Aequorea victoria中分离出依赖钙离子的生物发光蛋白，命名为aequorin。在分离过程中，还发现第二种蛋白，它缺乏发射蓝光的生物发光成分，但是在紫外光照射时可以发出绿色荧光，故命名为绿色荧光蛋白（GFP）。在随后的20年里，研究者测定aequorin和绿色荧光蛋白在水母体内共同作用，将依赖钙离子的生物发光信号转换为发绿色荧光特性。而绿色荧光蛋白则是分子生物学研究中常用的报告蛋白。
原文报道：
Jellyfish protein boosts cognitive function and wins patent protection
By Mike Stones, 16-Jul-2010Related topics: Research, Minerals, Proteins, peptides, amino acids, Cognitive and mental function
The jellyfish protein apoaequorin improves cognitive function in people with memory problems, according to interim data from a randomized controlled trial commissioned by Quincy BioScience which recently announced a successful application for patent protection.
Derived from a jellyfish called Aequorea Victoria, aequorin is a calcium-binding protein.
The protein improved cognitive testing scores by 14 per cent in 60 days compared with the placebo in the randomized controlled Madison Memory Study. The trial focused on 35 adults who had a memory concern and an average age of 61.
Mark Underwood, president and co-founder of Quincy Bioscience told NutraIngredientsUSA.com that: “Calcium-binding proteins are necessary for the proper functioning of the human brain and they deplete in the aging process as well as severely in affected areas in the brains of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. These proteins are known to provide a neuroprotective effect.”
Neurotoxicity
By replacing the depleted proteins, with a natural calcium-binding protein discovered in jellyfish, the company hopes to restore the brain’s natural balance of these proteins. “The proteins work by buffering intracellular calcium and slowing down a variety of events that can lead to neurotoxicity,” said Underwood.
“Based on our ongoing research of aequorin in various health conditions and what we know about the role of calcium in the body, we expect aequorin to be a vital protein in many aspects of healthy aging,” he added.
